5 things we learned from Chelsea 2-2 Hull City as Alonso discovers attack alone can’t do the Prem

Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull City showed that while Xabi Alonso has built an attack capable of rescuing games, his defensive structure and willingness to surrender possession remain major concerns.

Chelsea’s frustrating 2-2 draw against newly promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday offered another reminder of the contrasting sides of Xabi Alonso’s early reign.

The Blues have plenty of attacking quality, with Morgan Rogers and João Pedro finding the net again and Cole Palmer continuing to produce decisive moments, but their defensive problems are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

The visitors twice exposed Chelsea to regain control after falling to an early goal before the hosts fought back to rescue a point thanks to Joao Pedro’s second-half goal.

For Alonso, the result also raised a wider tactical question. The approach that helped Chelsea beat Fulham and Brighton through quick transitions has brought goals and points, but the Premier League can punish a side that repeatedly allows opponents space and chances.

Against a Hull team perfectly comfortable without the ball, Chelsea discovered that dominating possession does not automatically mean controlling a match, particularly when the defensive structure remains vulnerable.

5 things we learned from Chelsea 2-2 Hull City

1. Chelsea’s goalscoring is not the problem

Chelsea’s attack once again provided plenty of evidence that Xabi Alonso has the firepower to compete at the top end of the table. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring, João Pedro equalised in the second half with Cole Palmer registering the assist, meaning the trio have now all registered goal involvements in three of the four league games so far.

2. Chelsea simply cannot stop conceding

The defensive concern is now too obvious to dismiss. Chelsea have conceded at least twice in each of their five matches against top-flight opposition this season, while Saturday’s goals from Mohamed Belloumi came after defensive mistakes. Their inability to protect leads is becoming the biggest obstacle to Alonso’s ambitions, especially when opponents are finding ways to attack the space around Chelsea’s backline.

3. Alonso’s style is creating problems

Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea have shown that they are comfortable allowing opponents to have the ball and then attacking quickly when possession changes hands. That approach worked against Fulham and Brighton, but Hull exposed its downside by remaining patient and organised. Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side averaged 62.1% possession during their title-winning 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign, making Chelsea’s current low-possession approach a significant tactical departure.

4. Hull City are here for business

Hull City’s unbeaten start deserves serious respect. Sergej Jakirovic’s side had already beaten Manchester United and drawn with Aston Villa before travelling to Stamford Bridge, where they again refused to be overawed. The point against Chelsea extends that unbeaten league run to four matches, their longest in the topflight since October 2008.

5. Chelsea frustrated by their own style

The interesting tactical twist at Stamford Bridge was that Hull were happy to surrender possession, stay compact and wait for opportunities, while Chelsea have increasingly used a similar approach under Alonso. The difference was that Hull were comfortable executing it against a possession-heavy Chelsea side. After previously recording just 38.1% possession against Fulham and 25.9% against Brighton, Chelsea found themselves facing a team willing to play the same game and make them break down a disciplined defensive block.